Fire-alarm



FIRE ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. 1918.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 @J/ZL o attain,

THE coLUMulA PLANonRAPH co.v WASHINGTON, D. c.

nic.

FIRE-ALARM.

Applicaton filed November 27, 1918.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, J oHN H. SMIDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire- Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire alarms of the audible and detonating type.

The object of my invention is to produce a lire alarm adapted to be automatically thrown into operation when subjected to a certain degree of heat, the alarmy embodying means for firing explosive charges in slow or rapid successi-on as deslred, there being suitable interinissions between the charges to produce the best effects.

A further object in view is to provide a construction which will enable new charges or cantridges to be placed in position for' renewing the efficiency of the alarm after it has been in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the iire alarm, omitting the front cover.

Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal sec-tion through the same, showing the parts in their normal positions.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section through the alarm taken about centrally of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a vertical transverse section, similar to Fig. 2, omitting the cover and certain other parts, blo-wn away or consumed after ignition, with the casing and oartridge holder at the lower limit of its movement.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hanger and friction surface.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 represents a hanger, having` a holle 11 adapting it to be hung on a nailor like support. The hanger 10 has a forwardly offset and roughened friction surface 12, the purpose of which will appear, and also has one or more stops 13 to arrest and limit the downward movement of the gravity-operated portion of the alarm, as' will be described.

Mounted for limited slidable movement on the hanger 10 is a gravity-operated cartridge holder 14 having any desired number Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

serial No. 264,308.

of sockets or holes 1'5 in which are inserted detonating explosive charges or cartridges i6, each having an igniting fuse 17. The cartridge holder 14 is preferably embodied in a casing or container 18 comprising a back wall 19 and a rim 20. 21 designates a protective cover of waterproof material, which is carried by the holder 14, and covers and incloses the charges, but which is forcibly displaced or blown off upon the eX- plosion of a cartridge, after which it can no longer muffle the remaining explosions.

Connected to the holder 14 by a hinge 22 is a fuse holder 23 which moves downwardly when said holder is released, the holder being normally att-ached to the hanger 10 by a fusible mass or substance 24 such as soft metal adapted to melt when subjected to a certain degree of heat. When said substance melts, the cartridge holder is released and it then falls by gravity until arrested by the stop means 13.

The fuses are secured in any convenient manner to the fuse support 23 and are provided with friction ignitable terminals 25, similar to ordinary match heads, the same projecting sufficiently beyond the support 23 to rub against and along the friction surface 12, during the descending movement of the holder 14, the fuses being thus ignited concurrently. A weight 26 is attached to the support 23 to produce the required friction and insure the ignition of the terminals 25.

The fuses 17 are so made that the charges will be intermittently exploded. This may -be accomplished by making the fuses each of a different length, or by graduating the fuses so that they will b-urn progressively slower. The back 19 may be separated from the holder to insert new charges and fuses. A hole is formed in lthe to-p of the rim 20 to receive the fusible substance 24 and permit the holder 14 to slide downwardly on the hanger 10 when said fusible substance melts. The holder 14 is shown as formed with an orice through which the fuses 17 pass.

In operation, the fusible substance 24 is melted by heat in the vicinity of the alarm. This releases the holder 14 which then moves downwardly by gravity, with the result that the fuse terminals are rubbed against the friction surface 12 and the fuses thus ignited. Due to the special fuse arrangement described, the charges 16 are successively eX- ploded at intervals, producinga Very effective alarm. i

It will of course be understood that the alarm is susceptible of numerous modicaingfriction ignitible terminals, and a sta-l tionary friction surface in contact with which saidterminals move whensaid holder is released.

2. Ar fire alarinicomprising a hanger,- a gravity-operated cartridge holder slidable in relation to said hanger, a fusible connector by whichA said y'holder is normally attachedl to said hanger,v adaptedto release the latter when subjected to a certain degree of heat, cartridges carried by said holder, differ` entially timed` fuses for said cartridges having. friction ignitible terminals, a movable support for said fuses and their terminals, and a stationary friction surfacein contact with which said terminals move when said holder is released, said fuse support being hinged to the cartridge holder and adapted to press the terminals of the fuses against said friction surface.

3.`A fire ala-rm comprising a hanger, av

gravity-operated cartridge holder slidable in relation to said hanger, a fusible connector by which said holder is normally attached to said hanger, adapted 'to release the latter when subjected to a Acertain degree of "heat, cartridges carried by said holder, differentially timed fuses for said cartridges havj ing 'friction ignitible terminals, a movable support forsa'id fuses and their terminals, a stationary friction surface in contact with which said terminals move when said holder is released, lsaid fuse support being hinged to the cartridge holder, and means acting on said fuse support adapted to press the terminals of the fuses against said friction surface.

t. A fire alarm comprising a hanger, a gravity-operated cartridge holder slidable in relation to said hanger, a fusible connector by'which said holder is normally attached to said hanger, adapted to release the latter when subjected to a certain degree of heat, cartridges carried by said holder, differentially timed fuses for said cartridges having friction ignitible terminals, a movable support for said fuses and their terminals, a stationary friction surface in contact with which said terminals move when said holder is released, and means for limiting. the downward movement of the cartridge holder.

5. A fire alarm comprising a hanger, a gravity-operated cartridge holder slidable in relation to said holder, a fusible connector by which said holder is normally attached to said hanger, adapted to release the latter when subjected to excessive heat, cartridges carried by said holder, differentially ytimed fuses for said cartridges having friction ignitible terminals, a movable support for said terminals, a stationary friction surface in contact with which said terminals move when-said holder is released, and a protective cover carried by said cartridge holder and adapted to be forcibly displaced by the explosion of a cartridge.

6. A fire alarm comprisinga hanger, a gravity-operated cartridgel holder .slidable in relation to said hanger, a fusible connector by which said holder is normallyV attached to saidfhanger, adapted to release the latter when subjected to excessive heat, a

cartridge carried by said holder, a fuse for said 'cartridge having L friction ign'itible terminal, 'and a friction-surface in contact with which said terminal moves when said holder is released. f

7. In a fire alarm, a detonating charge, a fuse therefor, an yignitioni terminal for said fuse, a ygravity-operated'support for said detonating charge, heat controlled means for releasing said support, and means lfor nitingsaid fuse terminal during the .descent of said support.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.1

JOI-IN II. SMIDLEY.

Copies'*of-'this"patent"maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.' C. 

